Tai Chi Styles and Forms

Chen Style - Original style as practised in the Chen Village from the 16th or 17th centuries.

Yang Style - Yang Lu Chan is the founder. He learnt T'ai Chi Ch'uan from the Chen Village family in the late 18th century and was the first non Chen family member to learn it. He passed the art down to his own family. His grandson, Yang Cheng Fu formalised the art into a "Form".

Simpified Yang Style - Developed by the Chinese Communist Government in the 1950 to bring the art to the masses. It was compiled into 24 Postures. Today this form is the most widely practised form of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and works well for beginners.

Cheng Man Ching Style - He was a student of Yang Cheng Fu and devised a Short Form of 37 movements. His lineage is widely taught by several masters including TT Liang and Patrick Kelly.

Wu Style - Created by Wu Chuan You sometime in the latter part of the 19th century. The style has smaller movements than the Yang Style and larger movements than the Hao Style. There's a 85 and 57 movement form.

Hao Style - The movements are relatively small and it is derived from master Wu Yu Hsiang (1812-1880).

Li Style - Chee Soo, a British/Chinese teacher popularised the style in the 1970's. His lineage remains a mystery. It is likely however that this Style is derived form the Wu Style.

I practise Tai Chi for well-being and to prevent or ease many ills that come with aging. Since 2005 I practise the Yang Style and since 2010 I practise the Cheng Man Ching Style. Since 2014, I practise and teach the 24 Postures, Simplified Yang Style.

Essential Point for Tai Chi Practice:

Stand like a Tree: Relax the hips and waist

Sinking the chest and raising the back

Top of the head light and gently suspended

Continuity of movement

Stillness in movement

Differentiation of solid and empty stances

Unifying the upper and lower body

Sinking the shoulders and elbows

The T'ai Chi Ch'uan philosphy has its roots in Taosim and it lies in the concept of yin and yang, or rather how the two inter-relate and change. Yin and Yang is a concept that predates the art of Tai Chi Chuan by many centuries. The yin-yang symbol is the Tai Chi symbol and was adopted by the Tai Chi masters of the 18th century in China. It represents the dynamic of change and interdependence at the heart of how Tai Chi works both internally and externally.